~Yesterday is history,Tomorrow is a mystery,Today is a gift of God,Which is why we call it the present~~Bill Keane~

And God Said "No!"

I asked God to take away my pride.
And God said "No".
He said it was not for him to take away,
but for me to give it up

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
And God said "No".
He said her spirit was whole,
her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations.
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
And God said "No".
He said he gives me blessings,
happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain.
And God said "No".
He said suffering draws you apart from worldly
cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
And God said "No".
He said I must grow on my own.
But he will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

And God said "No".
He said I will give you life,
that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others,
as much as he loves me.
And God said, "Ah, finally you have the idea".
~Author Unknown~

God, I HurtI said, "God, I hurt."
And God said, I know."
I said, "God, I cry a lot."
And God said, "That is why I gave you tears."
I said, "God, I am so depressed."
And God said, "That is why I gave you Sunshine."
I said, "God, life is so hard."
And God said, "That is why I gave you loved ones."
I said, "God, my loved one died."
And God said, "So did mine."
I said, "God, it is such a loss."
And God said, "I saw mine nailed to a cross."
I said, "God, but your loved one lives."
And God said, "So does yours."
I said, "God, where are they now?"
And God said, "Mine is on My right
And yours is in the Light."
I said, "God, it hurts."
And God said, I know."
~Author Unknown~

I was regretting the past
and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
"My name is I Am." He paused.

I waited. He continued,
"When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there

My name is not I Was.
When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Will Be.
When you live in this moment,
it is not hard. I am here.
My name is I Am."
~Helen Mallicoat~

Is 911 the number you really need to have??

When in sorrow, call John 14.
When men fail you, call Psalm 27.
When you want to be fruitful, call John 15.
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.
When God seems so far away, call Psalm 139.
When you faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely or fearful, call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, call I Corinthians 13.
For Paul's secret of happiness, call I Corinthians 3:12-17.
For Paul's idea of Christianity, call II Corinthians 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8: 31-39.
When you want rest and peace, call Matthew 11: 25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 70.
When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8: 1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67.

God And The Answering Machine

What if God had voice mail?
I have learned to live with the answering machines
as a necessary part of modernisation.
But I have often wondered
What if God decided to install voice mail?
Imagine praying and hearing this....

"Thank You for calling my fathers' house
Please select one of the following
four opinions.....

What if God used the familiar excuse?"All angels are helping other customers right now.
Please stay online. Your call will be answered in the order it was received."Can you imagine getting these kinds of responds as you call on God in prayer?

"If you'd like to speak to Gabriel, Press 5;
If you'd like to speak to Michael, Press 6;
For any other angel, Press 7;
If you'd like King David to sing a psalm for you, Press 8;

To find out if your relative is here,
Enter his/her date of death and listen for the list that folows;
For reservations at my father's house
Simply Press the letters J-O-H-N,
Followed by the numbers 3-1-6

For answers to nagging questions
About dinosaurs, the age of the earth,
And where Noah's Ark is residing
Wait until you get here !

Our computers show that you have
Called once today already.
Please hang up immediately
This office is closed for the weekend.
Please call again Monday".

Thank God you can't call him too often
You only need to ring once and God hears you,
Because of Jesus you never get a busy signal.
God takes each call and knows each caller personally.

WHEN I SAY I AM A CHRISTIAN When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I was lost!"
That is why I chose this way."

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.
~Carol Wimmer~

WAITDesperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait".
"Wait? You say, wait! " my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance,
and YOU tell me to WAIT? I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
or even a 'no' to which I can resign. And Lord,
You promised that if we believe we need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut and grumbled to God,
"So, I'm waiting.... for what?"
He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want~~But, you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save.... (for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT."

Hymns appropriate for the......Accountant - Earth Holds no Treasures
Astronaut - Nearer My God, to Thee
Baker - I Need Thee Every Hour
Builder - How Firm a Foundation
Canoeist - Flow River, Flow
Caterer - All things are Ready, Come to the Feast
Chiropractor - Stand Up, Stand Up
Coal Miner - Somewhere the Sun is Shining
Contractor -- The Church's One Foundation
Cowboy - Day is Dying in the West
Dentist -- Crown Him with Many Crowns
Dieter - Thou, my Everlasting Portion
Drunkard - Lead me Gently Home
Escaped Convict - Flee as a Bird
Electrician -- Send the Light
Explorer - I Have Heard of a land
Fisherman - Shall We Gather at the River?
Golfer -- There Is a Green Hill Far Away
Gossiper -- Pass it On
Hiker - Walking in the Sunlight
Home Builder - A Mighty Fortress
Insurance man - Blessed Assurance
Ironing lady- I'm Pressing On
IRS --All to Thee
Job Seeker - I Want to be a Worker
Jogger - The Path of Life
Lost Traveler - Here We are But Straying Pilgrims
Mountain Home Builder's Association - My house is Built Upon a Rock
Nervous Groom - Just a Few More Days
New kid in the class - I am a Sranger Here
Parade Master - Fling out the Banner
Patient - I Long to be Perfectly Whole
Perfect Person' - Just as I am
Physical Therapist - One Step at a Time
Poor Man - I Care Not For Riches
Politician -- Standing on the Promises
Rescuer - Seeking the Lost
Salesman - Almost Persuaded
Shopper -- Sweet By and By
Scuba Diver - Far Away in the Depths
Stonecutter - Rock of Ages
Tailor -- Holy, Holy, Holy
Traveler - Far and near
TV Weatherman -- Showers of Blessing
Vegetable Grower - I Come to the Garden Alone
Watchman - Silent Night
Watchman - It may be at Morn
Wagon Master - He Leadeth Me
Whining Spouse - Have Thine Own Way

If you MUST speed on the highway, sing these hymns loudly:
at 45 mph.... "God Will Take Care of Me"
at 55 mph.... "Guide me, O Great Jehovah"
at 65 mph.... "Nearer My God to Thee"
at 75 mph.... "Nearer Still Nearer"
at 85 mph.... "This World is Not My Home"
at 95 mph.... "Lord, I'm Coming Home"
at 100 mph...."Precious Memories"